Better Detecting Interval Cancer - Is X-Ray Enough?

For quite a while, there has been a question as to why some lung cancers are detected by radiograph, whereas others are not, but new research has uncovered ways to identify the types of people who may find themselves at risk for this form of disease, with the findings presented at the 2012 European Respiratory Society's Annual Congress in Vienna.

Over the last several years, there has not been a significant reduction in the mortality rates experienced as a result of lung cancer, and although chest radiographs can be implemented in order to screen for lung cancer, they are not always as effective as would be optimal, as there have been a number of cases in which patients have been diagnosed with certain cancers within twelve months of receiving a negative chest radiograph.

It is of course true that human error could be to blame for some of these instances, with the cancer perhaps being missed during the review of the radiograph - but even beyond human error, there can be instances when the cancer is undetectable due to the screening technique or because of the rapidity with which the cancer developed, allowing it to initiate and become evident within the less than twelve months between the negative screening and the appearance of the cancer itself. In all, there is a lot that is still not known about this form of lung cancer that sometimes goes undetected by screening chest radiographs (referred to as an "interval cancer"), and researchers have been aiming to analyze the type of people who tend to develop this cancer, as well as the characteristics of the disease, in order to understand it better.

In order to figure out these answers, over 77,000 people participated in a screening trial, in which they were followed up with after initial, negative screenings; of these 77,000-plus people, 450 individuals ended up being diagnosed with lung cancer during the year of their negative chest radiograph screening, of which 152 were not spotted initially by the radiograph.

In the end, the results revealed that these "interval cancers" were at a more advanced stage when they were diagnosed, and that they were typically small cell lung cancers (most likely to occur in males with a history of smoking) and were less often adenocarcinoma. The results of this study showed that x-rays migh be insufficient for detecting lung cancer, as this form of the disease - which is more aggressive - will likely end up being missed.

In all, this increased understanding will help the medical community to better detect interval cancer, and to save more lives in the process.

Is Gastric Bypass Surgery Your Solution?

For many men and women, gastric bypass surgery is a lifesaver. Not only does this type of procedure provide the individual with a new body, but also a new chance at life. It can provide new opportunities like this but only to those who are ready to make a change. You will need to meet with doctors and talk about the benefits and disadvantages of having this procedure before you decide to move forward. However, even before you pick up the phone, you need to ask yourself the hard questions first.

Have You Tried to Lose Weight in the Past?

In order to have gastric bypass surgery, you need to have taken every other step in the past to lose weight. This means focusing on various diets, eating plans, and exercise routines. In fact, you should be able to lose some weight on these plans. If you continue to fail at them, the chances are good that you will need to better understand why that is happening before you move to this procedure. Though you fail at the weight loss goals in the long term, you should be able to stick with a plan. This surgery's success will depend on it.

Do You Want to Be Healthier?

It seems like a strange question to ask to some, but for others it is one of the most difficult to ask. The question here focuses specifically on your desire and willingness to do what it takes to get to a healthy life. You have to be at that point in your life where you are ready to stop giving in to food, stress, and emotions and to focus on making you the best possible person you can be. You have to be at that point in your life where you can pull yourself up from the floor to make a change. Are you at that point?

Are You Ready to Change Your Relationship with Food?

Many people who are overweight struggle with an emotional attachment to food. This means they turn to food to deal with their feelings. Know this: if you continue to do that, you will be putting your life on the line every time. However, if you have the ability and the willingness to change these thoughts, this procedure may be a good one for you. If you are not willing to change these thoughts for good, though, you may find that not even this procedure can help.

Gastric bypass surgery is not just a one-time procedure. Once you have the surgical component complete, you will need to work hard for months and even years to maintain it. If you go back to eating poorly and not living a healthy life, chances are good you will end up with the same health problems.

When considering a procedure as serious as gastric bypass surgery anniston locals should turn first to the respected professionals on staff at http://www.rmccares.org to guide them through the decision process.

Taking Care of Your Spine

Taking proper care of your spine is one of the most important choices you can make for your health. Your spine is the centerline of your body and responsible for many tasks including holding up your head, ensuring limb movement, and housing your spinal cord--the brain's messenger.

Chiropractors know the importance of spinal health and the crucial role it plays in overall health and wellness. When your spine is balanced and functioning properly, you have helped to create your best scenario for optimal health.

As advocates of proactive healthcare, here are two simple stretches recommended by chiropractors that can help you keep your spine healthy. Try these after a long car ride, a day at the computer, or even after an invigorating workout like running.

Elongation Stretch

The following elongation stretch can help to limber the spine, relieve pressure on the lower back, and help provide blood and oxygen flow to the brain. Start with your hands and knees on the floor, then sit back so your bottom is sitting on your heels and your chest in on your knees. You can rest your forehead on the floor or on a small pillow. Inhale slowly while you expand your rib cage and then exhale slowly relaxing your rib cage. Concentrate on your breaths and the movement of your rib cage. Do not hold your breath. Try this for 5 to 10 deep breaths per day and work your way up to 15 to 20 deep breaths per day in this position.

Spine Roll

The spine roll helps to naturally decompress your discs and limber and massage your spine. You will want to do this stretch on an exercise mat or a soft carpeted surface. Start in a supine position (back on the floor) with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Inhale first while in the supine position then exhale while you bring your knees into your chest. Inhale again while you lengthen your spine from your tailbone to the crown of your head. Exhale and lift your head to your knees, wrapping your arms around your knees. Then you can begin to gently rock back and forth, massaging your spine.

Therapeutic exercises like these and others can help keep your back healthy. Many chiropractors provide free classes on how to care for the spine and other general health matters. Chiropractors are whole body specialists with proactive treatment plans to help people live longer, healthier lives. To learn more about proper care for your spine, contact your local chiropractor for a class schedule or an appointment.

Advantages of Joining Fitness Boot Camps

Many people think that it is almost impossible to get in shape and lose weight. They try it for a while and often fail to keep up with it as a daily routine. If you are one of them, all you need to boost your weight loss motivation is to join a support group! When you feel that you are a part of the same society where members aim high to stay fit, you will never want to go back to your old lazy routine.

If you are looking for some more reasons to join a bootcamp fitness program, have a look below at some of its main advantages:

Nutritional Training 

Following a specific diet helps you lose weight faster. However, it can be possible only if you have access to nutritional training from health and fitness professionals. Joining a fitness boot camp will enable you to know more about the foods that are right for your quick weight loss regime. This way, you will know how much of the required food you should eat daily.

Nutritional trainers will not ask you to adapt fad diet in your daily fitness schedule. Rather than that, they will educate you about the kind of foods that can benefit you in terms of quick weight loss.

Support Group 

When you find a group of people having the same goal as yours, you will consider them your support group to achieve the desired fitness results. More importantly, this bond with them will motivate you to stick to the fitness program and follow the instructions accordingly. As others are working hard on the same goals, you will love doing it with them.

A Fitness Program as a Fitness Package 

Instead of adding your favorite exercises in your fitness program, the fitness experts will assign you a complete package of exercises that your body actually needs. By guiding you to the relevant weight loss exercises, you will be able to get in shape within a short period of time. Secondly, you are welcome to write down the basics of these exercises so that you can continue your exercises later as well.

Affordable as Compared to Paying Your Personal Trainer 

Paying a personal trainer can be expensive. Therefore, an ideal option for you is to join a bootcamp fitness program because it is comparatively more affordable. Since you will be working out along with other groups of people, you will be able to pay reasonable fees. In addition, you will be getting almost the same benefits as you would get from a personal trainer.

Joining a fitness boot camp is beneficial for your weight loss goals.

DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction - The Positives and Negatives

A mastectomy can be a devastating experience for any woman. While surviving and defeating cancer is a cause for celebration, it can leave a lot of sadness in its wake. Many women derive a great deal of their femininity from their breasts and no one wants to risk being uncomfortable with the shape they have to see everyday in the mirror. Aesthetics are not more important than a life or death situation, but it is nonetheless a heavy burden on many cancer survivors. To that end, DIEP flap breast reconstruction aims to give women a chance to have a beautiful figure back after defeating cancer.

Here are some of the positives and negatives to the procedure:

An Overview

To understand the pros and cons of the DIEP flap breast reconstruction procedure, it helps to have a general idea of what it entails. Instead of artificial implants, the doctor will use fat and skin from the patient's tummy to mold a new mound after the mastectomy has been performed. This is where the procedure gets its name. The deep inferior epigastric perforator artery in the belly area lends the name to the operation. The result doesn't give you a natural looking appearance right away. The doctor must also perform additional work to create an artificial nipple and surrounding areola.

Advantages

There are numerous advantages to DIEP flap breast reconstruction, which leads many plastic surgeons to recommend it as a procedure for those who have been through a mastectomy. Unlike similar procedures, no muscle is moved in the process, meaning recovery is faster and there is less pain involved. Because there is skin and fat taken from the belly, you are essentially getting a tummy tuck at the same time, which appeals to many women. Perhaps the best advantage to this procedure, however, is the extremely low failure rate. Estimates put it at less than 1 percent, which is good news for anyone who wants an operation they can count on.

Negatives

There is no plastic surgery procedure that doesn't come without some negatives. While you shouldn't dwell on every little story about something that could go wrong, it is equally irresponsible to go into a procedure without your eyes open. First, the DIEP flap breast reconstruction operation takes longer than, say, TRAM surgery. Second, because there are two surgical sites, there will be twice the scarring, though a good surgeon will hide these as effectively as possible. Finally, there are risks as there are with any surgery, which you should discuss thoroughly with your doctor.